Leader rating

Synopsis

Oum Yazam is a mother determined to keep her family safe at home in the war-ridden city of Damascus, until her husband can return. The only inhabited flat in the building, it is refuge to her ageing father-in-law, children and maid, as well as a young couple and their baby who once lived above. With the front door boarded up and curtains closed, the film exists in this space, wandering between the rooms with the characters as they attempt normal life, until one day the maid witnesses the husband of the young couple get shot outside. As snipers creep closer, Oum and the residents are pushed to extreme lengths to protect themselves and their home in this nerve-wracking study of war from the inside.

What our educators say

"Some of them saw a clip from Wakolda (The German Doctor) on TV recently and really wanted to watch it. So I thought I’d take a chance, not expecting them to watch the whole film but the majority were absolutely gripped. "